lBrands PDAs as money-making machines
lWants separate IAS and IPS cadres for Goa
lFiles complaint against HJS
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Congress on Friday charged Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of not finalizing the Regional Plan to allow illegal conversion of paddy fields and green areas for mega projects. The party has decided to constitute vigilance and public grievance committee to look into all such illegal projects and file complaints in the matter before the authorities concerned.
Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President John Fernandes stressed on the need to ensure that planning and development authorities (PDAs) do not have MLAs or ministers as chairmen. “PDAs should be chaired by town planners or architects,” he said.
Pointing to a huge housing project coming up in Caranzalem fields, Fernandes alleged that government is purposely delaying finalization of RP so that it can continue to allow diversion of green land for commercial projects.
The Congress leader has asked Parrikar, who is also Minister for Town and Country Planning, to come on record and explain how many paddy fields have been converted or diverted for mega projects.
Meanwhile, at a meeting held in the presence of GPCC member and Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane on Friday evening meeting on the occasion of Goa Statehood Day it was resolved Goa should have its own cadres of IAS and IPS officers without having alliance with any other states like Karnataka or Maharashtra.
“Goa needs full dedicated officers, who would be loyal to the State and would not be like tourists coming to Goa,” Fernandes said, also demanding an independent High Court for the State.
On Friday afternoon the party filed yet another police complaint against Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, accusing the right wing organization of destroying the You Tube footage of Sri Ram Sena Chief Pramod Muthalik, based on which a complaint was filed against him on Thursday.
“This morning, we saw that the You Tube footage had been destroyed. The link shows that the video has been removed by the user,” GPCC spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said, adding that the complaint has been filed against HJS for attempt to destroy evidence.
